Baby boomers by the numbers: Facts on health care, sleep tips, and more

Tuesday

Mar 31, 2009 at 12:01 AMMar 31, 2009 at 4:08 AM

Tips for baby boomers on health care, sleep, exercise and more.

Danielle Braff

Tips for baby boomers on health care, sleep, exercise and more.

Sex problems? You’re not alone

Women who say they have sexual problems aren’t uncommon, according to a recent study in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Of women ages 18 to 102 who were surveyed, 43 percent say they have sexual problems. The good news is that only 12 percent are bothered by their sexual problems. If you’re one of the people who is looking for a better sex life, speak with your gynecologist.

The expensive cougar hunt

The male-oriented cable network G4 will have to pay $1 million if it loses a lawsuit filed by three women. The network is accused of filming the women without their consent to be aired in a segment called “The Great Cougar Hunt.”

Expensive health insurance

Women older than 40 pay from 4 percent to 48 percent more for their health coverage than men, according to a study by the National Women’s Law Center. Insurance companies say they charge more for older women because they use health-care services more often than men.

Osteoarthritis relief

A 150-milligram daily dose of Pycnogenol, an herbal supplement made from the extract of maritime pine trees, offers 52 percent improvement in physical function to osteoarthritis sufferers after 90 days of use, according to a recent study in Nutrition Research. Pain and stiffness also improved by 43 percent with the drug.

Snooze without snoring

While they may deny it, 60 percent of men between ages 60 and 65 snore regularly, according to the British Snoring and Sleep Apnea Association. The same study found 40 percent of women between the ages of 60 and 65 snore regularly. More than half of those snorers surveyed said they argue with their partners about it. Losing just 10 percent of your body weight can reduce the occurrence of snoring.

Inflammation be gone

You can lower your risk of heart attack and stroke by lowering inflammation just by exercising 90 minutes per week, according to a Harvard University study.

Get your beauty rest!

Adults who sleep fewer than five hours a night may increase their risk for hypertension, according to a report in Hypertension, a journal of the American Heart Association. Don’t have time to catch some more zzzs? Just thinking about a nap may reduce your blood pressure, according to the Journal of Applied Physiology.

Smile … you’ll live longer

You can lower your chances by 55 percent of an early death by simply having a sunny disposition, according to Dutch researchers. If you keep that smile going, you’ll also have a 23 percent lower chance of heart failure.

Get your thyroid test

One in 50 women develop hypothyroidism, and it is most common in women older than 50. Symptoms can be very serious, including heart disease and obesity. Ask your doctor for a thyroid-function test annually to make sure you’re not in danger.

Good, bad news about breast cancer

By the age of 50, one in every 36 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer within the next decade. That’s the bad news. The good news is that early treatment can save a significant amount of lives by removing the tumor and killing the cancer cells that may have spread to other organs.

23

A recent Harris Poll shows that boomers make up 24 percent of the population and are 23 percent of the online audience. That’s just one percentage point away from those who grew up only knowing how to write a letter through their computer.

Chart

Health care costs

Boomers should be prepared to put aside a significant amount of money for health care, according to the Census Bureau. Following is how much people reported spending in 2004, the latest available statistics.

Ages 45-54 55-64 65-74 75 and older

Health insurance $1,291 $1,567 $2,171 $2,115

Medical services $809 $892 $631 $723

Drugs $461 $642 $854 $985

Medical supplies $133 $161 $144 $172

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

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